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Relationships

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Boyfriend says I am controlling and lying over everyday things

190 replies

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 11:02

Boyfriend accuses me of ….

controlling him if I ask during the heatwave would he mind not frying so many foods, maybe use the air fryer or oven? Because I have an open plan kitchen and I’m aware I’m very house proud maybe too much, I never fried things due to smells but since I’ve met him I’ve wanted him to be happy so I say nothing but the day before with all the heat it lingered. He said ok no worries, then ten mins later he started doing it, and I said please can you not so he chucked the frying pan with oil in the sink

lying about being asleep earlier than I used to be (while he’s working away and finishes late shifts and I’m unable to talk due to being in bed)

lying about not being able to hear him on the phone due to bad signal, I was then told im insecure because I was testing to see if he wants to talk to me? I called him right back when I moved rooms as I get bad signal in living room

lying about falling asleep on the sofa… so basically we were together, I’ve been exercising a lot lately, it’s a hot summer night and before bed, it was all quiet, I lid on the sofa thinking I’d rub my sore legs, and before I knew it I dozed off. He came blasting in saying how dare you fall asleep, you should always tell me if u are going to sleep not in the bed together but I explained I didn’t mean to, it just happened. He said I’m avoiding him, going on and on at me until I snapped go away leave me alone then he said why can’t you just relax, by which point I was back in the bedroom but riled up un relaxed and yet by now he was totally relaxed, and asked why can’t I be normal and relax and I said I was very relaxed until u made me jump by screaming at me that I’m disrespecting you for falling asleep on the sofa. I tried explaining I wa tired and wasn’t intending to doze off but it just happened

lying about forgetting things. We were due to go out for the day a nice sunny day, I released I forgot a few things and went back up (I live in a second floor flat)… he went down the communal stairs, I went down the lift (no particular reason) just there’s a lift in the mirror and I like to check I look okay because he says if I wear leggings or certain things I look disrespectful so I make sure in this lift mirror I don’t look too revealing, and he refuses to be seen with me if I wear leggings and this day I had a little summer dress on and was a bit worried… anyway I realised gosh I’ve forgotten xyz. ( random things like sunscreen, and lip care etc, I love looking after my skin)… when I came down to the car park, all happy, my heart sunk and his face like thunder yelling how dare I make him wait and that I must have stood in the communial hallways for five mins just to make him wait, that I purposely waited for him to go downstairs but I truely didn’t, I simply forgot things. This day I shouted at him in the car that I’m exhausted from being accused of daily things. Also on this day he said I had made him wait three hours prior but the reality is it’s a Sunday morning, we had food, some breakfast, I put a lot of my clients records from the day before onto my app, I cleaned up, showered etc… I didn’t purposely make him wait

Also on this morning, it’s been a heatwave, I’m always on top of hoysework and can be labelled as OCD even, but I said do u mind if I don’t do washing up this morning it’s so boiling hot (when he’s home not working and he doesn’t live with me btw, he uses soooo many cooking pans etc) and it’s soooo much washing up, it actually hurts my skin even with gloves on… so he shouted no you are not leaving until it’s done, washing up must always be done, that I’m purposely trying to be difficult but I wasn’t snapping, I just said in a light hearted way can I leave it until later hoping he’d say sure based on the fact he says I’m the cleanest woman he’s been with which he loves but he then started chucking food he brought in the bin shouting if you’re going to misbehave then so will I. I was just flabbergasted. And begged him to stop. In the end I did wash up (when he’s here I promise I’m washing up about 5 times a day he’s a chef so cooks loads which is fine but so much washing up)

for a while I wasn’t working for health reasons, I was and am still fat but trying, my sleep was bad so he told me to get back working, sleep earlier, excersise… so I have started all of this. Now I try to sleep sometimes as early as 9.30 and the gym etc tires me out, I’ve started self employed, built up my clients again, but he says that’s not like me to sleep earlier and that I must think I’m better than him now I’m working, I’ve lost 4 stone since I met him, and he says things like I’d be quiet if I were you, with all that weight…, says he doesn’t like I now have a personal trainer so I agree to train on my own and ask maybe he can come too because as well as the gym I do circuit training outside… but he said he doesn’t want to come and why should he because he doesn’t need to get fitter, that I should do it… but if I do do these things and get tired, he says I’m avoiding him…. I’m really drained from it

I’ve given him no reason to not trust me. I’m a boring homely girl, I love it. And when I do slip into sleeping late again he says I need to get my act together
for context he has fallen asleep many times on the sofa

So why is he one thing but another? Is it bipolar? Am I just simply not loved? If I don’t do something I’m grilled for hours upon hours, but if I do do the things I’m told I don’t do, eventually IM told I’m trying too much and getting ahead of myself. WHY I CANT MAKE SENSE OF IT

OP posts:
MsGreying · 01/06/2026 12:55

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 11:17

How am I controlling? If I am I can learn from what I’m doing wrong

Learn without a man getting in the way.

This man and you are completely incompatible.

Nevermind31 · 01/06/2026 13:00

Yeah, did not actually read all of that. He is controlling, please leave him, it will be better for your self esteem, confidence, quality and enjoyment of life

Ilovelifeverymuch · 01/06/2026 13:00

I didn't really it all but form what I read you need to leave him. He comes across as an insecure and controlling man and he will not change, leave.

Iwanttobeafraser · 01/06/2026 13:05

Overtheatlantic · 01/06/2026 12:39

What the hell did I just read? Disrespectful to wear leggings? I hate the word and the modern use of it. Get rid of him.

I have a very strict rule - if a man ever refers to someone being "disrespectful" (and it's always a woman), I assume he's a misogynist wanker and immediately want nothing to do with him and worry about any female children or parterns he may have.

It's a ridiculous word that men only ever seem to use in the context of saying a woman does or wears or says something they don't like.

Cherrysoup · 01/06/2026 13:06

You are not the problem and you don't need to 'improve'.

AuDrusilla · 01/06/2026 13:06

You have 4 threads on this prince today and yesterday

Are you hoping for different replies?

CocksBolingey · 01/06/2026 13:09

Why are you wasting your energy listing all the crazy shit this nut case has said/done?! HE is the problem not you - but I am sure you are intelligent enough to know that, deep down.
You don't live with him which makes it a million times easier just to tell him to fuck off, take back your key and don't give this absolute lunatic another thought!

Maray1967 · 01/06/2026 13:13

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 12:18

He won’t make me a cup of tea, snaps at me if I don’t make him one, even if I’m in the middle of things, I’m just a bit of a wreck now. Full of nerves

Because he’s vile!!! It is as simple as that.

Stop trying to analyse what’s going on, just recognise that it is bad and you need to get rid of him. You have let him walk all over you.

You don’t want frying smells in your house - but you let him do it!!! I won’t have smoking or vaping in this house. I couldn’t care less who might want to smoke or vape - they are not doing it in my house.

EuroNotVision · 01/06/2026 13:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Fucking hell. No OP is not controlling, she is being abused. Why would you ever tell someone being abused that they are wrong?

AImportantMermaid · 01/06/2026 13:17

Oh sweetheart, you are in an abusive relationship with a horrible, controlling, man. No amount of analysis with help you understand it because some things aren’t meant to be understood. This is just the way he is, and he will never change. It’s up to you what you do with that information but don’t waste your life on someone who isn’t worthy of tying your shoelaces.

Stressmummy12 · 01/06/2026 13:17

You are not the problem you are not controlling he is abusing you and framing you as the perpetrator and he as the victim when in actual fact it’s the other way round. This will only get worse and then you’ll be even more stuck. You need to leave and gain your confidence back becuase he will wipe it from you a day at a time until there’s nothing left

Goose8080 · 01/06/2026 13:17

Oh dear, i didn't finish your post but read enough to say he sounds like an absolute nightmare. You don't need to understand him, you must leave this relationship.

CaptainMyCaptain · 01/06/2026 13:24

dairydebris · 01/06/2026 11:07

Just LTB. That's all you need to do. You don't need to figure him out. Save yourself the time and just end it.

This. JUST LEAVE HIM! What can you possibly be getting out of this relationship?

ThisJadeBear · 01/06/2026 13:26

Read your previous threads for context.
This man has called you a fat slag, a c*nt, threatened to throw water over you.
The list is endless.
And he’s married.
You have your own home and standards to keep and you let this filthy man in it, bringing in dirt, grease, vile language and abuse.
If someone called me a fat slag during sex I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.
Get him out and keep him out.
If you let this continue now it’s on you.,

Freysimo · 01/06/2026 13:27

So many threads on Mumsnet at the moment about awful men, asking if they (the women) are the problem. Have some self respect women, dump them, you're far better off on your own than with someone who makes you feel bad.

JoWilkinsonsno1fan · 01/06/2026 13:28

Another abusive prick!!! None of this is okay - re read what you have read, imagine that was your best friend what would you say…. you would say leave him, block him, run and never look back.

I mean who the fuck dictates when another adult can sleep or not…. you must know this isn’t okay….but he will get worse., much worse. Please leave now please - he is a nasty, controlling twat.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/06/2026 13:29

KiraChris · 01/06/2026 11:17

How am I controlling? If I am I can learn from what I’m doing wrong

You are NOT controlling, @KiraChris - he is a nasty, gaslighting bully. Bin him.

Hangingcrystal · 01/06/2026 13:35

We are here for you.
You are not alone.

You can do this.

Any aggression, call the police.

OneDogTwoCatsHalfaDH · 01/06/2026 13:42

Could you imagine this in 20, 30 years time? Always questioning yourself, worrying about upsetting him. Nah, a partner is supposed to be your friend, your supporter.
I can imagine it, I've been married for 18 years to a similar man.
I have become so accustomed to being unhappy and frustrated with his behaviour that it no longer really affects me.
@KiraChris please gather the strength to get out of this relationship NOW.
And get some help around you to ensure you stick to it. I actually left him a few years ago, but he wore me down with alternating between threatening suicide, drunken aggression and being all sweet and reasonable.
Please don't be me, don't waste your life with this man.
You are not being controlling or unreasonable at all, he is totally gaslighting you. The moving targets will always be out of reach, you can't change your behaviour to make him happy because making you miserable is what makes him happy.

ScorchedEarthAdjacent · 01/06/2026 13:43

Bin him. He’s putting in a lot of effort to hate you. Instead of care for you. Why let this negative and nasty behaviour into your life?

Freshcoolair · 01/06/2026 13:45

You can't fix yourself. You are not the problem. He is the problem. The solution is to leave.

This is abuse.

You may be particularly keen on being clean. Your home your rules. He can leave is he doesn't like them.

Punishing you is abuse.

Leave the relationship and be more careful in the future.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 01/06/2026 13:50

You sound slightly uptight about the frying, but it’s your house. He’s an abusive arsehole.

CactusPeach · 01/06/2026 13:51

He has double standards and moving goal posts which means you're always going to be in the wrong and paying for it or required to make it to him. Plus for a relationship to work, people have to be willing to give their partner the benefit of the doubt when there's no reason not to, he isn't and the whole lot is making you miserable and drained.
The leggings and making you wash up is controlling. Throwing the food away was passive aggressive acting out to 'punish' you. He is not a good person to be in a relationship with.

Sodthesystem · 01/06/2026 13:53

And does he want to learn where he is “going wrong ?”

You’re not controlling, you’re in an abusive relationship.

Why do you think you should stay with men who shout at you? Or “grills you” for hours.

Abusers like you stuck in a merry go round of “if only I could find the right words or actions to prove my honesty/goodness/love/innocence/loyalty etc…”. There are no right words because he doesn’t actually believe these bad things about you. He just needs you to believe he does. So that you stay trapped, looking inwards trying to fix something in you, rather than realising HE is the problem.

The only point of a relationship is to make your life better. This guy makes it worse. Get away from him.

Synchron1 · 01/06/2026 13:56

Leave him please. He is horrendous and abusive to you. You are not at fault here.

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